The plea has been circulating on social media since Saturday when a woman allegedly impersonated an animal rescue transport volunteer and picked up Toby — a seven-year-old shih-tzu recently surrendered by his Belleville-area owners — in a Scarborough plaza.

The cream-coloured dog was supposed to be transported from the Quinte animal shelter by the Critter Cabs Animal Rescue Transport group and delivered to another rescue group, Team Dog Rescue, so that he could be admitted into foster care.

But Toby never made it.

“Our volunteer had shown up and the dog had already been taken at that point,” said Larysa Struk, director of Team Dog Rescue. “It’s shocking to us because we’re not sure why someone would do this. This meeting spot is used frequently — is it someone who has established a pattern and was watching and saw an opportunity?”

The meetup took place Saturday at the Tim Hortons at Kennedy Commons, in the Kennedy Ave. and Hwy. 401 area, at around 8:15 p.m.

Struk said the woman who was last seen with Toby was young with long brown hair, wearing a blue print maxi dress and pink sweater. She was driving a dark Hyundai SUV.

Struk urges anyone who knows the whereabouts of the little pooch to call Crime Stoppers, or for the person who has Toby in their possession to drop him off at an animal shelter. Though he looks young and healthy, he’s aging and unneutered and needs certain health treatments.

“There’s easier ways to get a dog,” she said.

The organization is offering a $3,000 reward for his safe return.

Struk said she hasn’t yet seen any listings selling the dog on either Kijiji or Craigslist.

Toronto police said the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call 416-808-4100 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS.

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